Panel clip

ABSTRACT

A panel clip for mating lateral edges of adjacent panels and securing them to each other. The clip is U-shaped with foldedover edges which have serrated sections at each end. A plurality of holes allow the mated panels to be secured by nailing to a structural element like a stud which may not occur at the seam of the mated edges.

United States Patent 1 Mollman Sept. 24, 1974 PANEL CLIP [75] Inventor:Robert E. Mollman, Moreland Hills,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Alside, Inc., Akron, Ohio [22] Filed: July 21, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 273,731

[52] US. Cl 52/483, 24/73 PC, 24/259 SG, 52/357, 52/582, 403/405 [51]Int. Cl. E06b 3/54, A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/259 R, 259 FS,259 B, 24/259 PW, 259 FF, 259 GC, 259 PF, 259

SP, 259 SH, 259 SG, 259 TF, 73 PC, 73 SC,

73 FT, 85 B; 52/357, 579, 582, 584, 483; 287/189.35; 52/753 J; 403/405[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,394 2/1910 Daly 24/73 PC2,200,649 5/1940 Wardle 52/582 2,295,444 9/1942 Woodward 24/73 FT2,367,322 1/1945 Wright et al. 24/259 R 2,871,998 2/1959 Cross287/l89.35 X 2,903,753 9/1959 Nelsson 52/582 2,974,383 3/1961 Bright24/85 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 532,246 1/1930 Germany 24/259 GC1,038,847 8/1966 Great Britain 24/259 Primary ExaminerBobby R. GayAssistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fidelman,Wolfe, Leitner &

Hiney [5 7 ABSTRACT A panel clip for mating lateral edges of adjacentpanels and securing them to each other. The clip is U- shaped withfoldedover edges which have serrated sections at each end. A pluralityof holes allow the mated panels to be secured by nailing to a structuralelement like a stud which may not occur at the seam of the mated edges.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB SEP 24 ISM SHEET 2 0F 2 PANEL curBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART To obtain asatisfactory installation of exterior simulated stone or brick panels orindoor panels, each panel should be secured at each end of the panelplus at least once in the middle of the panel. This procedure is simplewhen the panels are applied over solid sheeting or wood siding. Thereare many types of applications where it is not possible to nail each endof some panels unless furring is first installed over the entire area tobe covered. The furring is needed because with normal 2 X 4 studs, it isnot possible to nail the adjoining ends of both panels into the samestud.

Typical wall constructions for application of exterior simulated panelswhich would be a problem are:

A. Open Studs B. Insulating Fiber Board Sheeting C. Plaster or GypsumBoard D. Old, Unsound Wood Covered Walls E. Foam insulatmgsheets Byusing the panel clip of the present invention, simulated stone and brickpanels can be installed over all of the above structures without theadded expense and time consuming process of furring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a U" section steelclip with an internal serrated edge for receiving the right and lefthorizontal edge of adjacent panels and retaining them to preventmovement relative to each other. When a clip is firmly in place over thehorizontal edge of the mated panels, a nail or other securing means maybe placed in one of the plurality of holes or apertures in the clipwhich is best in line with the center of the stud or other rigidstructures. Thus the mated edge of adjacent panels need not occur uponthe center of a stud when used with the present panel clip. The clipalso reinforces and stiffens the vertical joint between panels when theclip cannot be secured to a rigid structure.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide a clip for securing adjacent panels to each other andreinforcing the mated seam, even though the clip cannot be secured to arigid structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means forsecuring adjacent panels to each other and to a rigid structure whichmay not occur at the mating edge of the adjacent panels.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive panel clip tosecure panels to pre-existing structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means forsecuring panels to previously problematic wall constructions.

Still another object is to provide a panel clip which secures panels tothe wall without the expense of furring.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thepanel clip;

FIG. 2 is the cross-sectional view along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a preferred cross-sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an alternate cross-sectional view along section line 44 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 displays the use of the nailing clip in the installation ofpaneling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the subject panelclip indicated generally as 10. The clip has three holes 12, 14 and 16in side walls 18 and 19. Hole or aperture 14 is centered on the clip andholes 12 and 16 are equally distanced therefrom. Two parallel legs orwalls 18 and 19 extend from base 17 and are curled under and terminatedat edge 20. The edge 20 is serrated at either end 22. The serrationsengage and help retain the inserted panels.

Close to each end of the clip and communicating with the base 17 andwalls 18 and 19 are two indentions or ribs 24. The structure is morefully displayed in FIG. 5, which is a view along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1. Ascan be seen in FIG. 5, the indentions or ribs 24 are smaller than thegeneral clip base and wall structure l7, 18, 19 and are generallyU-shaped.

FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of clip 10. The parallel walls 18and 19 meet the base 17 at right angles. The progender extensions ofwalls 18 and 19 form keeper 20. The angle formed between keeper 20 andwalls 18 and 19 is approximately 12, but, may be any acute angle.

Another embodiment of the clip 10, as displayed in FIG. 4, shows thebase 17' and walls 18' and 19 forming a U-shaped member whose curledunder ends 20 run parallel to the legs 18, and 19'. Independent of whichembodiment the nailing clip takes, the ribs 24 will be as shown in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 5.

The clip as displayed has been made to be approximately 4 inches longand a half inch in height. It has been made out of galvanized steel butmay be made out of any material which can be bent in a simple machineoperation to form the embodiments described in FIGS. 1 through 5.

The use of the panel clip is to install panels as shown in FIG. 6. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, there are four panels 40, 50, 60, and 70. Thevertical edges of panels 40 and 50, shown as 42 and 52, are laidadjacent to each other and mated. The mating edge formed by edges 42 and52 is parallel to and lies over stud 30. Panel clip 10 is placed on thehorizontal edge of panels 40 and 50 so that the right end of the clip ison the left end of the nailing hem of panel 50 and the left end of clip10 is over the right end of the nailing hem of panel 40. When the clampis firmly in place, ribs 24 grip and serrated elements 22 hold the clipsecurely to the two panels and prevent motion of the two panels relativeto each other. Thus the clip reinforces and stiffens the vertical seamof the adjacent panels.

Now that the clip is firmly emplaced on the panels, a nail may be placedin one of the clip holes that is best in line with the center of thestud. As illustrated in P10. 6, this hole is center hole 14. The panelclip, when nailed into the stud with a nail whose length is adequateenough to grip the stud after passing through nonstructural material,securely holds the adjoining ends of the adjacent panels in place.

If the mated edges 42 and 52 of panels 40 and 50, respectively, wouldlie other than on the center of the stud 30, hole 12 and 16 would beselected to secure the panel clip and the secured and retained panels tothe stud. Also, the remaining adjacent panels that are mated other thanat the center of a rigid structural element, as a stud, are to besecurely held to such stud by the use of clip in the appropriate hole.Even ifa stud occurs at a location greater than the length of the clip,the clip reinforces the mating seam and eliminates the natural tendencyof the seam to bow away from the wall.

The panel clip 10 is generally hidden from. view by the overlap ofhorizontal edges of the adjacent panels. This is shown where the panelclip 10 has been inserted over horizontal edges 64 and 74 of panel 60and 70, respectively, and the bottom edge 54 of panel 50 overlaps thepanel clip and hides it thereby. FIG. 6 shows an attractive arrangementof panels, where the horizontal rows of paneling are staggered by usingalternate staggered studs. The panels will be nailed in the center ofthe stud through which every hole is superimposed thereon.

Since stud spacing is generally it) inches and 24 inches on center andthe simulated indoor or outdoor panels are 48 inches, it can be seenthat when one panel is in line with a stud, the other panels can beattached to studs in the same manner. If the first panel-is installed atthe corner on a stud, us other vertical edge may lie on the very tip ofthe stud 48 inches away. Thus the mated edge formed between this firstpanel and the next adjacent panel will not lie centered on the stud. Byusing the panel clip 10, the two panels are retained together by theserrated edge and the ribs, and then secured to a rigid structure bynailing through the appropriate hole which will be centered on the stud.

An additional important feature of the serrated section 22 and ribs 24is their use when siding or panels are installed from the top down. Insuch cases, the nailing hem is down. The serrated section and the ribs24 retain the clip in location until it is nailed into place. The foldededge 20 of clip 10 also has a primary function of providing adequatestiffness to the panel clip.

Though the invention has been described using nails, any securing meansmay be inserted through the holes or apertures to secure the retainedadjacent panels to a rigid structure. These may include screws or othersecuring means. Also the clip may take any cross-.

sectional form such that it has a base and two legs or walls extendingtherefrom. The material which the clip can be made of may include anyinexpensive, machinable material. The angle that the keeper elements 20form with walls or legs l8and 19 may be any angle which will allow forthe insertion of the panels and the retention thereof. Though theinvention has been described for the installation of paneling or siding,it can be used for the installation of any decorative sheet material.Also, the clip has been described as being secured to a stud but may beused to retain panels and secure them firmly to any rigid structurewhich the panels are to cover.

The panel clip has been described for retaining mated lateral edges ofpanels and securing them, when nailed, to a rigid structure which maynot occur at the seam of the mated edges. Obviously many modificationsand variations of the present invention are possible in the light of theabove teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scopeof the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described. The dimensions given are but examples and in noway are meant to be limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a panel clip, two panels, a fastener and a rigidelement for attaching said two adjacent panels lying in a single planeto said rigid element, said panel clip comprising:

a base parallel to said panels horizontal edge;

two parallel walls extending from said base, thereby forming athree-sided closure receiving said horizontal edge of said panelstherebetween;

said base and walls having a length greater than the horizontaldimension of said rigid element;

a plurality of pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each ofsaid walls, spaced, in a plane parallel to said base, whereby only onepair of said holes is superimposed on said rigid element and said pairreceives said fastener passing through at least one of said panels andinto said rigid element.

2. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and said walls meet to form aU-shaped element, including retention means extending from the ends ofsaid U" and projecting parallel to said walls for engaging and retainingsaid panels, and wherein said holes are above said retention means.

3. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and walls meet at rightangles, including retention means extending from the end of said walls,said retention means not meeting said base and projecting inwardly,forming an acute angle with said walls for engaging and retaining saidpanels, and wherein said holes are above said re tention means-'- 4. Aclip as in claim 3 including at least two U-shaped ribs communicatingwith the interior of said base and said walls, each adapted to grasp oneof said adjacent panels-- 5. A clip for securing two panels adjacent attheir edge to lie in a single plane comprising: a body with a base andtwo parallel legs affixed to lie generally per-- pendicularly to saidbase, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving an edge of saidpanels inserted between said legs;

two keeper means, one for each leg, and extending the length of saidleg, having a first end attached to a leg and a second end extendinginside said closure, and having a serrated edge, each for engaging andretaining said inserted panels in said plane and reinforcing a seam atwhich said adjacent panels mate; at least two pairs of holes, one partof each pair being in each leg, positioned above said keeper means, eachof said pair of holes being aligned to receive a nail which will passthrough at least one of said panels and a pair of U-shaped ribsprojecting toward the interior of said body, each adapted to grasp oneof said adjacent panels. 6. A clip as in claim 5 including a third pairof holes positioned in line with said two pairs and centeredtherebetween.

1. In combination a panel clip, two panels, a fastener and a rigidelement for attaching said two adjacent panels lying in a single planeto said rigid element, said panel clip comprising: a base parallel tosaid panels'' horizontal edge; two parallel walls extending from saidbase, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving said horizontaledge of said panels'' therebetween; said base and walls having a lengthgreater than the horizontal dimension of said rigid element; a pluralityof pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each of said walls,spaced, in a plane parallel to said base, whereby only one pair of saidholes is superimposed on said rigid element and said pair receives saidfastener passing through at least one of said panels and into said rigidelement.
 2. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and said walls meetto form a U-shaped element, including retention means extending from theends of said ''''U'''' and projecting parallel to said walls forengaging and retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are abovesaid retention means.
 3. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base andwalls meet at right angles, including retention means extending from theend of said walls, said retention means not meeting said base andprojecting inwardly, forming an acute angle with said walls for engagingand retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are above saidretention means.--
 4. A clip as in claim 3 including at least twoU-shaped ribs communicating with the interior of said base and saidwalls, each adapted to grasp one of said adjacent panels.--
 5. A clipfor securing two panels adjacent at their edge to lie in a single planecomprising: a body with a base and two parallel legs affixed to liegenerally perpendicularly to said base, thereby forming a three-sidedclosure receiving an edge of said panels inserted between said legs; twokeeper means, one for each leg, and extending the length of said leg,having a first end attached to a leg and a second end extending insidesaid closure, and having a serrated edge, each for engaging andretaining said inserted panels in said plane and reinforcing a seam atwhich said adjacent panels mate; at least two pairs of holes, one partof each pair being in each leg, positioned above said keeper means, eachof said pair of holes being aligned to receive a nail which will passthrough at least one of said panels and a pair of U-shaped ribsprojecting toward the interior of said body, each adapted to grasp oneof said adjacent panels.
 6. A clip as in claim 5 including a third pairof holes positioned in line with said two pairs and centeredtherebetween.